Wedding Photography Tips

©Daniel Sheehan. All Rights Reserved

Wedding photography can be very rewarding for a professional photographer, but for a beginner it may seem like a daunting task. But don’t worry - if you are capable of taking great images and willing to prepare in advance, the job is not that hard.

There are also great chances for any photographer to make a good living or few extra quid if done part time - assuming you do the job correctly.

Preparation is the key to becoming a great professional wedding photographer; this is assuming that your technical skills are up for the job. If you prepare properly the task at hand will be so much easier, and the family concerned will be most pleased.

You need to prepare well in advance of the big day - this means meeting the couple to discuss what they would like. It also means that you need to contact the priest or whoever is celebrating the service and find out about guidelines that he may impose. For example, in some churches they do not allow strobe units to be used.

©Julie Rigsby. All Rights Reserved

Preparation also involves going to the church and hotel before hand to take a look around and pre-select locations for your photo shoot. Go at the same time of day a few weeks before hand. Find out where the light will fall and what objects may be in your way.

While these may seem trivial matters, they will turn out to be invaluable when the wedding day comes.

Beforehand, when discussing the details of your shoot with the bride and groom find out what they want and don’t be afraid to give your input. It also helps to have a few wedding deals so you can cater for people of all means.

Have a list of all the shots that are standard, and be on the lookout for anything that will earn extra cash. Always remember that the more images you take, the more money you will earn. Pictures of grannies usually sell well, as do images of young children.

©Chris Pirillo. All Rights Reserved

When the big day comes arrive early. Make sure you have plenty of spare batteries and memory if you are using digital or film if you are using a film camera. Also have a spare camera as back up. If your camera fails it will be embarrassing.

If possible hire an assistant for the day. Use the assistant to gather people for their image to be taken. Have a list of all the standard images that should be taken and make sure that the assistant ticks of the list when the shot is done. This will avoid confusion and is a good way to make sure you got all the shots.

Shoot detailed shots of flower, the wedding cake on its own and any other images that you think will sell. Even if it does not sell it will only take up a little memory on your camera.

Finally - make sure that you have plenty of business cards on hand - if you have time to chat after the shoot, it may create extra business.

TJ Tierney is an award winning photographer and a freelance writer. To find out more information visit his free photography and digital photography site. His site also contains a free photography competition.